Tonight was another Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire and there was a winner and a real loser and all the candidates looked better in some ways, weaker in others.
Start with the loser. It was Fred Thompson. He really should not have been on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He could have done that tomorrow night. Mr. Thompson should have been right at the center of the Republican universe with the other candidates to show what he has got. A no-show will not go well with many of the candidate partisans.
The winner, and I hate to admit this and it is by default, Sen. John "F--- You" McCain. His talk about how to win in Iraq and the overall fight against the Islamofascists was very inspiring. However, what I just can not get away from Sen. "F--- You" McCain is that he makes me feel like he is a know-it-all and that he is smarter than you. That can be attributed to two things. Being in Washington way too long and that the overall attitude is what we expect from liberal, socialists, not a conservative. And the answers that he gave about the "comprehensive immigration reform" bill-scam were totally a sham. You know, no matter how much one dresses up a pig, it is still a pig. And, that was the "comprehensive immigration reform" bill scam.
The so-so had to be former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. I feel that he made inroads on domestic policy, but needed to be aggressive on the war in the Iraq theatre and less wanting to make alliances to defeat the Islamofacisists. But, I am always impressed by the fact Mr. Romney has his eyes on the overall picture. That we are fighting Jihaddists and they want to defeat us and we must defeat them first. Also, I think that he is somewhat hedging until we all hear the report by General David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker. The way that he talks about Iraq will be determined by that. Overall, Mitt is still my guy and will do better in the next debate.
One that I have to admit I have looked at a second time is former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. Now, I do not think that he has a chance at the nomination, but his sharp wit and knowledge of issues and willingness to go into areas Republicans rarely go is impressive. And when Mr. Huckabee and the Republican answer to the Democrat wackadoo tandem of Congressman Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska senator Mike Gravell, ol' Ron Paul were going toe to toe over how the war in the Iraq theatre in the War Against Islamofacsist Terror I was impressed that Mr. Huckabee said that it is not just over winning elections that it is more important to follow our commitments and honor. Beautiful and accurate. And that is what separates most Republicans from most Democrats.
Congressman Duncan Hunter continues to be working towards being the next Defense Secretary in either a Romney or Thompson administration.
I still do not get the rationale for the candidacy of Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas). I think he needs to leave, but not like Sen. Larry Craig. I mean really leave.
Same for Congressman Tom Tancredo. Once the conversation gets away from illegal immigration, Congressman Tancredo just seems way over his head. A good congressman, but won't be a great president.
Then there is comic relief in Congressman Ron Paul. I mean, I like a lot of the positions that he takes, many unpopular, but he just does not get the epic battle of our time in the fight between civilization and the Islamofacsists. Just coming home will not end the war, only embolden those that see our weakness and will prey upon them. Like I wrote above, when a second-tier candidate like Mr. Huckabee can deliver the big smackdown over Iraq, I know this man is not presidential material.
I did not forget about former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. But, I think he forgot to show up. He just seemed way off and was using his time as mayor of New York City as a crutch. If Mr. Giuliani wants to really be the Republican presidential nominee, he needs to show more fire and perform better than he did tonight. And when a questioner from the public asked about family values, Mr. Giuliani's answer was a big non-answer. And, like it or not, it will be the Achilles Heel of the Giuliani candidacy.
The three-team Fox News Channel questioners, Wendall Goler, Brit Hume, and Chris Wallace asked great questions. Even the people that Campaign Carl Cameron was getting to ask questions from the restaurant asked better ones than what will be asked at the moronic CNN/You Tube debate coming up.
All in all, Sen. "F--- You" McCain came up a winner by default. Mr. Huckabee looked very impressive and Mr. Romney had a so-so night, but no bad answers and some not so good ones.
Again, this field of Republican candidates is so vastly superior than any of the Democrat candidates. And with former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson entering the fray, it can only get better.
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